Flexible coupling



C. RAISIG FLEX I BLE COUPLING Aug. 30, 1927.

Filed May 8. 1926 wrruessss Wad M INVENTOR 6AM L Patented Aug. 30,1927.

UNITED STATES CHARLES RAISIG, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

FLEXIBLE COUPLING.

Application filed May 8,

This invention relates to flexible couplings more especially to acoupling mem-.

ber for joining a pair of cooperating machine elements.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide a flexible couplingof simple, compact and durable mechanicalconstruction which shall embodya flexible element that is disposed in the cooperating coupling membersin such manner as to prevent undue stressing and straining of theseveral operating parts.

Another object of this invention is to pro- .vide a flexible couplingwhich shall be adapted to permit a. relatively large amount ofmisalignment of the cooperating members which it is adapted to join andwhich shall be adapted to function as a smooth running coupling orconnecting member between the members to which it is connected atrelatively high speeds of operation.

Heretofore various forms of flexible couplings have been proposed topermit eflicient operation at relatively high speeds of the couplingmembers and to permit a certain amount of misalignment between themembers joined thereby in accordance with the particular servicerequirements for which the coupling members were designed. Most of theprior art couplings are of a rather complicated construction to allowfor freedom of motion between the cooperating parts and those that wereof a more simple design were subjected to the criticism of being limitedin their application to operating or service conditions in which thereis little or no misalignment of the coupling members.

In accordance with the present invention it is proposed to provide acoupling member especially applicable to the joining 0 motor generatorsets or other high speed operating shaft members in which the shafts tobe coupled are found to be out of alignment as a result of the manner ofassembling or mounting the apparatus of which they are a part. It isproposed to utilize a pair of coaxially aligned complementary couplingmembers having cooperating offset portions provided with slottedopenings.

flexible element of subadapted to receive a stantially V-shape or onehaving a pair'of converging arms which are engaged by the slottedopenings of the offset portions substantially along their entire length.

It is found that a coupling of this con- 1926. Serial No. 107,599.

struction permits an unusually large degree of misalignment bothangularly and when the shafts to which they are coupled are disposedwith their axes in parallel alignment, but not coaxially aligned.

In the accompanying drawings constituting a part hereof, and in whichlike reference characters designate like parts, Fig. 1 is a view inelevation of a flexible coupling member embodying the principles of thisinvention; Fig. 2 is a view in end elevation of one of thecon'iplementary coupling members; Fig. 3 is a side elevational viewthereof; and Figs. l and 5 are respectively, elevational views of the,flexible element utilized in cooperation with the coupling parts. Asshownin Figs. 2 and 3, the complementary coupling elements comprise hubmembers 1 having openings 2 provided centrally therein and havingflanged portions 3 provided with offset portions 4, which are adapted toco-operate when two of such coupling members are joined by a flexibleelement 5, as shown in Fig. l. The hub portions 1 are provided withthreaded openlngs 6 adapted to receive set-screws, or they may beprovided with key seats or other locking means by which they may besecured to the shafts on which they are mounted.

The oft-set portions 4 are provided with slotted openings 7 disposedangularly as shown in Fig. 2, the slotted openings being formed byslotting the offset portion at and mounting a cover plate 8 thereon asby dowel pins 9 or in any other suitable manner, or the offset portionmay be extended to include the cover member 8, and the slots 7 may beeither cored, broached or otherwise formed therein.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, the flexible element 5 is anangular memberof substantially V-shape having converging arms 10 of substantially thesame dimensions as the slotted openings 7 in which they are disposed asshown in Fig. 1. The flexible element is formed preferably of leather,but may be of any other suitable flexible mate rial or composition.

In assembling the coupling members the flexible element is insertedwithone of its arms in the slotted opening of one of the coupling parts,and the other coupling is assembled thereto by disposing its offsetportion in a position opposite that of the complementary member andsliding it on to the flexible element which is of such angular shapethat the coupling parts will be in substantially axial alignment,allowing of course for such misalignment as may exist between the shaftmembers to which they are secured.

In operation the flexible elements are free to slide in the slottedopenings of the coupling members, or the latter may slide on theflexible element to allow for any coaxial misalignment of the coupledshaft elements, and the flexible element will be subjected to a slightdegree of flexure in the direction of its greatest flexibility to allowfor any angular misalignment or disposition of the shaft elements.

The inherent nature of this type of cou pling relievesthe flexibleelement of undue strain and stresses so that a relatively thin leathermember having a substantial section provided by its width isfound to becapable of transmitting a substantial amount of torque at relatively hih speeds of operation without detriment'ally ei'lecting the coupling andwithoutsubjecting the coupled members to detrimental shocks or impactswhich would result from the utilization of coupling members having alesser degree of flexibility or freedom of movement.

It is evident from the foregoing description oi this invention thatflexible coupling members made in accordance therewith provide a simpleand eflicient means for coupling the shafts ofrelatively movable machineelements and that the design and 0011- struction of the coupling membersare such as to permit ready assembly of the parts and accessibility forrenewal and inspection.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been herein setforth, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications may be made in the details of construction and in thedesign and arrangement of the several cooperating parts withoutdeparting from the principles herein set forth.

I claim: 7

1. A flexible coupling comprising a pair of coaxially alignedcomplementary coupling members provided with cooperating offset portionshaving slotted openingstherein, and a substantially V-shaped flexibleelement disposed in said openings and adapted to cooperate therewith. tI

2. A flexible coupling comprising a pair of coaxially alignedcomplementary coupling members provided with cooperating offset portionshaving slotted openings therein, and an angular substantially V-shapedflexible element disposed in said openings and adapted to cooperatetherewith, the slot of one coupling member being in alignment with butdisposed oppositely to the slot of the other couplin member. v

9 coaxially aligned complementary coupling members provided withcooperating ofl'set portions having slotted openings therein, and aflexible element having a pair of converging arms adapted for engagementwith slotted openings of said oflset portions.

4. A flexible coupling comprising a pair of coaxially alignedcomplementary coupling members provided: with cooperating oflsetportions having slotted openings therein, and a flexible element havinga pair of converging arms adapted for engagement with the slottedopenings of said oflset portions, said converging arms being inengagement along substantially their entire lengths In testimonywhereof, I sign my name.

CHARLES RAISIG.

0. A. flexible coupling comprising a pair of

